The Eighth Holy Epscopal Synod ended

Elect the Guardians of Democracy and Secularism: Malankara Catholic Synod

The Malankara Catholic Episcopal Synod concluded with a call to the citizens to vote in the next parliamentary elections for a stable government that will protect the secular nature and democratic system of the country. The exercise of the right to vote is the most important obligation in a democratic society.  Exercise it in accordance with one’s conscience.

The Synod hopes that the recent social order and political circumstances would encourage all to take the right decision.  As a minority, the Indian Church is striving for self-protection.  The Synod urged that the proposals of the committee for the revision of law shall not be accepted and the attempt to subvert the value system of the society shall be condemned by all.  In different circumstances the Church in Kerala had to battle for the justice.

Alcohol for sixteen thousand crores of Rupees was sold in Kerala in the last five years.  There is the need of a serious change in policy that encourages income to the public treasury ignoring the ruin of a generation. We need a government that serves the public good.  The darkness that has enveloped all sectors life, especially those of education and labour, due to increasing political interests, has not vanished.  The conscious attempt to devalue the judicial system, in which the people have not still lost faith, is a serious concern.  The Church takes note of the alarming swell in atrocities and law and order problems.  The Synod said that in this special situation, the elected representatives should represent those denied justice and they should be individuals of transparent public life.  They should take nepotism, vested interests and corruption as challenges and overcome malice and evil in the society.

The Synod discussed matters of pastoral interest to the Church and took decisions.  The sacrament of matrimony, permanent diaconate, the major seminary formation, the Code of Particular law of the Church were some of the topics covered by the present Synod.  In the Synod presided over by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos were present Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos and Bishops Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Joshua Mar Ignathios, Abraham Mar Julios, Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, Joseph Mar Thomas and Jacob Mar Barnabas.

Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios celebrates the feast of St. Ignathios of Antioch

The first Bishop of Mavelikara Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios celebrated the feast of St. Ignathios of Antioch, his heavenly patron, on 29th January 2009. The celebrations started with solemn Holy Qurbono offered by Mar Ignathios in the cathedral, Punnamoodu. The felicitation meeting was presided over by Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos. During the meeting the Mr. John Thevarath and Mrs, Annamma John Plamootil were given the official medal of the Diligent Son (Bar Itho Kasiro) and Diligent Daughter (Barz Itho Kasirtho)  of the church respectively. The meeting also marked the official launching of the social activities of the diocese by Sri. M. Murali MLA, Sri. Babu Prasad MLA, Sri. Vasudeva Sharma and Sri. Kodikkunnil Suresh. During  the function Archbishops Mar Mathew Moolakkattil and Thomas Mar Koorilos, Bishops Dr. Stanley Roman, Mar Mathew Arackkal, Dr. Joseph Kariyil, Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Abraham Mar Yulios,  Jacob Mar Barnabas and Thomas Mar Timotheos, Leader of Opposition Sri.  Oommen Chandy, Minister Sri. Monson Joseph, Sri.  Tiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Sri. G. Karthikeyan and  Sri. V.M. Sudheeran were present. Many priests, religious and lay people felicitated Mar Ignathios.

Second Commemoration Feast of the Late Cyril Mar Baselios

Malankara Catholic Church celebrated the second Commemoration feast of His Beatitude Cyril Mar Baselios, the first Major Archbishop Catholicos, on 17th January 2009 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos was the chief celebrant of the Holy Qurbono. His Grace Thomas Mar Koorilos gave the homily. Rev. Fr. Mathew Charthakuzhiyil delivered the memorial speech.

The celebration ended with the Dhoopaprarthana in the Tomb and Nercha.

Evening prayers and prayers with incence were offered at the tomb the previous evening (16th of January 2009) at 6.30 pm.

The feast falls on the 18th of January but the commemoration was scheduled a day earlier as the 18th was a Sunday.

Foundation Stone Laid for the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Muvattupuzha; Official website launched

On 15th January 2009, the 6th Annual day celebration of the establishment of Eparchy of Muvattupuzha was marked significant by another historical event. The foundation stone for the new cathedral which was blessed by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Prefect of the Oriental Congregation, during his official visit to Malankara Catholic Church on 10 November 2008, was laid by Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, in the presence of Archbishop Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos and Most Rev. Abraham Mar Julios. The foundation stone. During the public meeting  Rt. Judge Justice Elizabeth Idikula and Mr. K. J. Peter were conferred with the Ecclesiastical honours namely “Barz etho sharrirtho” (Good Daughter of the Church) and “Bar etho shariro” (Good Son of the Church) respectively. The meeting also marked the launching ceremony of the official website of the eparchy (http://www.muvattupuzhadiocese.com). Many priests, religious and lay people were present during the programme.

Reception to Leonardo Cardinal Sandri

His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Prefect, the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, Rome.

Malankara Catholic Church gave a warm reception to Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, on 10 November 2008, 9.00am at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom. The reception was arranged in the traditional manner. Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos was the chief celebrant of the Holy Qurbono. Leonardo Cardinal Sandi delivered the homily. After the Holy Mass, His Eminence visited the tomb of Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios.

The following public meeting was presided over by Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos. The Metropolitan Archbishop Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Msgr. Eldo Puthenkandathil and the lay representative Shri. John Mathai IAS  made the felicitation speeches. The representatives from the religious congregations of various eparchies gave memento to the Cardinal. All the metropolitans of our Church, Priests, Religious, Nuns, Brothers and numerous Faithful participated in the blessed function.

The Inauguration of the Re-union Day Celebrations

The reunion celebrations had magnificent and colourful beginning. The three days programme was begun by the proclamation rally that started from Ranni Block Padi to Mar Athanasios Nagar at St. Mary’s Senior Secondary School, Ranni. The portrait of Mar Ivanios from the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum, Catholicate flag from the Diocese of Bathery, Papal Flag from the Diocese of Marthandom, portrait of Mar Theophilos from the Diocese of Muvattupuzha, MCYM flag from the Diocese of Mavelikara and the MCYM Logo from the Extra-Territorial Regions were brought under the leadership of MCYM with great pomp and show. The procession was leaded by priests and the office bearers of MCYM. Archbishop Thomas Koorilos inaugurated the rally. The lighted lamp was followed by the Papal flag, Catholicate flag and the portrait of the bishops. Hundreds of vehicles accompanied. At the end of the rally the lighted lamp was handed over to Rev. Fr. Abraham Naduviledam (Proto-presbyter) and it was placed at the main venue of the reunion day celebrations. The portraits were handed over to Rev. Msgr. Antony Kackanattu. Most Rev. Joshua Mar Iganthios, Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, Rev. Fr. Job Kalluvilayil and Rev. Fr. Mathai Kadavil hoisted the Papal flag, Catholicate flag, MCYM flag and the MCA flag respectively.

The Second Session of the Fourth Holy Episcopal Synod

The Second Session of the fourth Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church which earlier convoked from the 5th to 7th of March 2008, opened at 4pm, on 15th July 2008, at the Catholicate Centre, Pattom, Trivandrum. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the President, Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, the Secretary, Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Most Rev. Abraham Mar Julios and Most Rev. Jacob Mar Barnabas participated in the Synod that was convoked to examine and study the draft of the Code of Particular Law of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church. Besides Fr. Anthony Valiyavilayil OIC, Rev. Fr. John Kochuthundil and Rev. Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath, experts in Oriental Canon Law, were invited to the Synod to assist the Synod Fathers in the study of the draft. This session ended on 17th July, 2008.

Padayatra to the tomb of the Servant of God, Archbishop Mar Ivanios on his 55th Feast of Commemoration

The annual padayatra to the tomb of the Servant of God, Archbishop Mar Ivanios Started from Perunad today (10th, July, 2008). Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla celebrated the Holy Qurbono and blessed the Padayatris. The Malankara Catholic Youth Movement of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum is giving leadership to the Padayatra. The piligrims will reach the tomb of the servant of God in St. Mary’s Cathedral Pattom, Trivandrum at 8.30 am on 15th July, 2008.

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Dr. Antony Kakkanatt the New Syncellus of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla

Metropolitan-Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Koorilos appointed Rev. Dr. Antony Kakkanatt the New Syncellus of the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla on 1 May 2008 at Marygiri, the Archbishop’s House Tiruvalla. He was born in the year 1961 at Kudamankulam. He holds a Doctorate in the Theology of Catechism from Salesan University, Rome. Presently he is the Secretary of Synodal Commission for Faith Formation of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and Chancellor of the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla.

The Sixth Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod began

The Sixth Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church began at 6 pm on 5 March 2008, at the Catholicate Centre, Pattom. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos presided over the Holy Synod. All the Synod Fathers, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos (President), Most Rev. Thomas Mar Koorilos (Secretary), Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Most Rev. Abraham Mar Julios, Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, Most Rev. Joseph Mar Thomas and Most Rev. Jacob Mar Barnabas participated in the Synod. The Synod concludes on 7 March 2008.